The six clans in Foya that are now separate land communities include Upper and Lower Tengia, Upper and Lower Rankollie, and Upper and Lower Wuam. Their community self-identification declaration was made at the the LLA headquarters in Mamba Point, Monrovia. 

The process is not an effortless one. Under the Land Rights Act, any community seeking customary land rights must identify itself to the LLA. The community will have its land mapped by the LAA, create its own bylaws and constitution, and set up a community land development and management council (CLDMC). This needs to be done before the LLA finalizes the process by conducting a confirmatory survey and presenting the community with a deed. 

“You have taken a bold step,” said Kula Jackson, LLA commissioner, on Monday, applauding the six clans at a program marking the presentation of their declaration. “You have won the race. You are a giant already.” 

Jackson said the clans’ self-identification declaration was evidence that the LLA had already begun implementing the new land law. The law came into play last year and was hailed internationally for recognizing customary land rights and women’s ownership of land. Furthermore, Social Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development (SESDEV), a civil society organization, worked with the communities to help them understand the law and go through the legal steps towards a customary land deed. 

“Land is an important factor to community livelihood and survivability,” Daniel Krakue told FrontPage Africa after the program. “Securing customary land right will prevent conflict and provide economic sustainability for rural people.” 

The six communities already have a good idea how to use their land. This is thanks to the Foya land use plan, the first and the only land use plan since the creation of the law so far. The land use plan shows exactly what crops, farming methods and other land activities are suitable for every clan in the Foya district.

SESDEV was contracted by the Sustainable Trade Initiatives (IDH) of the Netherlands.  IDH drafted the Foya land use plan to assist the clans to go through the legal process and acquire their land deeds to be able to utilize the land use plan. The project started March this year. SESDEV worked with more than 150 towns in the six clans, according to Krakue. 

“We had to do community profiling, learn their history and culture to help us know the people to be able to carry on awareness of the law in those communities,” Krakue said.